At a certain point in his professional career, Massimo Alberti, a biomedical engineer who graduated in 2006 from Politecnico di Milano, decided it was time to "cross the line" by moving from research to the market. “I had been working for five years at this important technology institute in Singapore (The Agency for Science, Technology and Research A*STAR, ed.) and it was time to make a decision about the technology we were developing, which was advanced enough to attempt commercialization. That’s when my aspiration as an engineer emerged: the desire to see my research project become a product. So, I took the leap.”
The launch went well. Today, Massimo is the founder of REVIVO BioSystems and leads a team of 8 people, including engineers and biologists. Not a large team for now, but the company's scalability rivals that of the most renowned Silicon Valley startups. “We have distributors in ten countries, and we aim to expand the network and open a branch in Europe. We will continue to push into new sectors and are about to launch two new kits: one for anti-aging studies
What kind of technology are we talking about? “The company specializes in generating 4D tissue models in the lab for in vitro safety and efficacy testing. Our capabilities are the closest to real human skin among those commercially available. We have developed a combination of different technologies, from microfluidics, which replicates the function of blood flow, to genetic and tissue engineering, which allows us to reconstruct advanced, functionalized tissues in the lab starting from human cells. The resulting product is a tool where we can literally assemble these microfluidic devices with the reconstructed tissue to conduct tests for cosmetic purposes.” This includes the anti-aging market, wrinkle creams, and wound care, which alone would be enough to keep the company’s accounts busy. But this is just the beginning of the journey.
Copyright of REVIVO BioSystems Pte. Ltd.
“The true potential of this technology lies in the pharmaceutical field, where the complexity revolves around existing regulations, which are very stringent due to health-related reasons. These are tissues that represent the internal and external barriers of the body, such as the oral mucosa for oral care testing. Moving toward more significant applications, we could analyze tissues from the digestive tract, stomach, and intestines. We have even considered, in a future model, developing tests for products that need to reach, for instance, the brain or be metabolized by the kidneys.”
The company’s innovation goes beyond technology; it also addresses a significant ethical and social aspect. “We strongly believe in scientific and technological advancement to accelerate the paradigm shift from animal testing to alternative methods (NAM). Consequently, our innovation will help accelerate the development of chemical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical products, while ensuring consumer protection and reducing or replacing animal testing. By providing more accurate and effective methodologies for preclinical testing, REVIVO will help relevant industries reduce development costs, particularly in the preclinical phase, which could ultimately make products more accessible. Looking ahead, using patient-derived cells for in vitro models, such as those we develop, will enable more effective approaches in precision medicine and personalized cosmetics.”
Economic growth, advanced technology, and social and ethical responsibility are precisely the reasons why REVIVO BioSystems received the prestigious international award “Innovation That Speaks Italian,” presented directly to Massimo Alberti by Ministers Bernini and Tajani, representing the Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This highly innovative award is granted to tech startups operating abroad and founded by Italian citizens.
“I am very proud of this honor. Not only because it comes from my country, which I have been away from for over fifteen years, but also because, for the first time, this award, now in its sixth edition, is being given to an entrepreneur based in Asia—a continent with significant biotech development, even though the leaders remain the United States. The fact that Italy has awarded me signifies that they are also starting to recognize other countries. This award also demonstrates that pursuing an unconventional and challenging career path while embracing a global perspective can lead to meaningful achievements and recognition on the international stage.”
What drove you to leave Italy after university? “Curiosity and the desire to explore have always pushed me to seek new experiences. The first opportunity came during my years at Politecnico di Milano when I did an Erasmus program in Norway. That’s where I realized the value of experiencing other countries. I completed my PhD in Denmark, where I lived for seven years.” Then came the move to Singapore. “Compared to other places in Asia, Singapore is where East meets West. English is the official language, and it’s also a very green and livable city. It has a high quality of life: infrastructure and public transportation work well. It’s a city that is geopolitically stable.” Have you ever thought about returning to Italy? “I might consider moving back to Europe to be closer to France, where we currently have significant commercial ties. We are fundraising for our second round of financing, and it would be important if interested investors could help support our commercial expansion in Europe. In the future, who knows, if a concrete opportunity arises. Also, I have a daughter, and I’d love for her to get to know my country and Italian culture.”
What did you take from your time at Politecnico di Milano into your professional life? “When I started university, I came from a classical high school education, and thanks to the Politecnico, I gained a solid scientific foundation. My interest in developing cell cultures and microelectromechanical systems for in vitro applications began during my thesis, which focused on using microelectrodes to stimulate neurons cultured in the lab on a microfluidic device.”
A cutting-edge thesis that, years later, led you to found a successful startup. How do you see your future? “Today, I am very focused on this company, and my professional dream is to make it a leader in the field, enabling new technologies like this one to change how products are tested in the preclinical phase and help develop new ones that improve people’s lives more quickly and effectively.” Massimo’s motivation, however, runs deeper and is unexpectedly tied to his childhood dream. “I want to help people feel better through research and discoveries. For me, it’s a sort of mission. It’s no coincidence that, as a child, I wanted to become a doctor.”
But how does all this connect to biomedical engineering? “When I decided to enroll at university, I realized that by becoming a biomedical engineer, I could combine my passion for science with my desire to help others, just like doctors do. After all, if you think about it, technology allows you to have a broader impact on people—I can potentially reach many more.”
It’s easy to believe him. Massimo points out that the fluidic device, the core of his technology, is the size of a credit card. A card that doesn’t exchange money but delivers well-being to people.
The Politecnico di Milano is ranked 30th worldwide and 1st in Italy in the new
Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR) 2025 launched by Times Higher Education (THE).
The aim of the ranking is to measure universities’ contributions and commitment to interdisciplinary science, which is considered fundamental for tackling major global challenges. 1,023 universities in 92 countries around the world were analysed; 749 were included in the rankings which, for the 2025 edition, focused on natural and technological sciences, including disciplines such as Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach to research is fundamental, especially for a technical university like ours. Expanding research groups, broadening the range of humanistic subjects, developing collaboration and joint degree courses with other universities, both in Italy and abroad, are the key to tackling challenges that have a strong impact on society and increasingly position us in a global context. This result certifies the commitment of the last few years and marks the compass to guide future developments.
This achievement represents not only a prestigious result, but also a starting point to further strengthen the role of the Politecnico as a global reference point in multidisciplinary research.
QS Ranking: vote for the best university
Employment prospects after graduation are considered one of the most important criteria when choosing a university. As a member of the Alumni community, we invite you to share your opinion with QS about the best universities in the world.
"We are at the forefront of pioneering in-orbit maintenance," explains Luca Rossettini, CEO and founder of D-Orbit, in a recent interview with Fortune Italia.
He is speaking about the company he founded, a European leader in the pioneering field of in-orbit servicing, the "logistics of space."
But it also applies to Italy: a country that has always been at the cutting edge of space exploration, whose scientific and technological contributions have played a key role in shaping the aerospace industry of the entire continent.
And it continues to fuel this innovation: just a few days ago, the European Space Agency announced it had selected D-Orbit as its partner for its first in-orbit service mission, RISE. This commercial mission will demonstrate the ability to safely reach and dock with a geostationary client satellite.
A milestone towards the sustainability of in-orbit services and technologies, such as refueling, refurbishment, and assembly.
Luca Rossettini is a Politecnico alumnus in aerospace engineering and holds a PhD.
We’ve been following him closely for quite some time.
In an interview he gave us in 2022, he shared his vision, now on the brink of becoming a reality: to create orbital service stations for satellites surrounding our planet.
https://alumni.polimi.it/2022/02/21/un-satellite-e-come-il-maiale-non-si-butta-via-niente/
For years now, the company has been launching its ION carriers into orbit, which transport satellites to their respective operational positions.
"In the new space economy, we call it last mile delivery," explains Rossettini.
"Like a courier’s van, we roam space delivering packages door-to-door, meaning bringing satellites where they’re needed."
This service has radically changed the way satellites are sent into orbit: "it saves up to 85% of time and up to 40% of costs."
With RISE, D-Orbit is launching the successor to ION: a new vehicle called Gea, representing a significant technological leap.
The details of the platform have not been disclosed, but we know it will be equipped with robotic capabilities for in-orbit servicing and refueling missions.
The RISE mission is another step for Europe toward building its own commercial infrastructure in geostationary orbit.
For D-Orbit, it represents a contract worth nearly €120 million.
Simone Bartesaghi è Alumnus politecnico alla terza: ha una laurea in ingegneria meccanica, un PhD e un master in Yacht Design.“Quando ero uno studente di ingegneria meccanica, mi capitò di vedere il team Luna Rossa che faceva le prove alla Galleria del Vento. Un misto di leggenda, storia, design circondava i membri dell’equipaggio con le loro divise. Li guardavo con ammirazione e curiosità, pensando a come sarebbe stato bello fare parte di quel mondo”. Anni dopo, Simone Bartesaghi in quel mondo ci è entrato davvero, diventando uno degli uomini a cui la squadra italiana di Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli si è affidata per tentare la conquista della Coppa America.
Simone è un ingegnere meccanico e l’approdo al team di Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli è stato un obiettivo conquistato con pazienza e lungimiranza, ma iniziato proprio durante la preparazione della tesi di laurea al Politecnico di Milano. “Ho avuto la fortuna di fare la tesi in ambito Computational Fluid Dynamics con il professor Giorgio Colombo come relatore e come correlatore il professor Ignazio Viola, ancora mio grande amico, che in quel periodo era lui stesso era un PhD Student con un progetto legato a Luna Rossa; si occupava di questo argomento (CFD) in ambito vele e che ancora oggi non smetto di ringraziarlo”. La tesi di laurea era incentrata in ambito automotive, ma passare dalle macchine alle barche per Simone è stato un attimo. “Quella tesi mi ha permesso di mettere un piede dentro quel mondo e dal lì non mi sono più fermato”.
“Entrare in un team così importante è una sfida straordinaria, ma anche un’opportunità incredibile per mettere in pratica le competenze acquisite durante gli anni di formazione al Politecnico.”
Quanta ingegneria c’è dietro una barca come Luna Rossa?
“Tantissima” risponde Simone senza esitare. “Ingegneria e design di altissimo livello. I velisti a bordo hanno competenze tecniche e questo è fondamentale per avere un buon dialogo tra tutti i componenti del team. Si tratta di barche complesse dove ogni componente lavora come in un’orchestra”. E come in ogni orchestra il fine ultimo è raggiungere qualcosa di grande, che sia una melodia o arrivare primi al traguardo nelle regate di Coppa America. Ma non si pensi che, prima e durante la regata, un ingegnere fornisca solo numeri ai componenti dell’equipaggio. “Per lavorare in questo tipo di competizioni occorre mentalità flessibile e apertura verso altre discipline. L’aiuto non passa solo attraverso i numeri, ma anche attraverso le idee. Noi ci occupiamo di fare analisi idro/aerodinamiche al computer. In pratica mappiamo quello che succede attorno alla barca, simulando diverse forme di vele e diverse forme di scafo e appendici. Oltre ai numeri forniamo anche in insight della fisica che ci indicano come velocità e pressione si distribuiscano attorno agli oggetti. I numeri vanno poi interpretati. Durante le regate le cose cambiano, lo scambio e il confronto con l’equipaggio sono accelerati dall’adrenalina della competizione”.
Prima di approdare al team italiano, Simone Bartesaghi ha avuto un’esperienza importante con Artemis Racing partecipando con loro all’America’s Cup. “Con Artemis all’inizio della campagna AC35 ero l’unico italiano nel design team e relazionarmi con colleghi provenienti da altre parti del mondo, molti dei quali non conoscevo, mi ha permesso di imparare molto sulla gestione delle competenze lavorative e personali. Ma la sensazione che ho provato quando ho iniziato a lavorare per Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli è stata unica: ho avuto l’impressione di fare parte di una famiglia più che di un’azienda. Ho sviluppato grande empatia con i colleghi che sono diventati amici. E alla fine questo lavoro è diventata la nostra vita”. Una vita dove gli insegnamenti sono quotidiani e dove occorre lavorare con grande serietà.
“Anche la vela è questione di algoritmi. Ci vogliono competenze tecniche di altissimo livello e la capacità di lavorare in stretta sinergia con un team multidisciplinare. Non è solo lavoro, è soprattutto vita. Ho trovato in questo team una grande empatia, che mi ha permesso di creare ottimi legami, trasformando i colleghi in amici”
“Anche la vela è questione di algoritmi. Ci vogliono competenze tecniche di altissimo livello e la capacità di lavorare in stretta sinergia con un team multidisciplinare. Non è solo lavoro, è soprattutto vita. Ho trovato in questo team una grande empatia, che mi ha permesso di creare ottimi legami, trasformando i colleghi in amici”
C’è una lezione che ti porti dietro dalla tua esperienza vissuta durante gli anni del Politecnico?
“I professori che ho citato prima mi hanno permesso di sviluppare la tesi di laure su un argomento particolare che mi affascinava molto. Ma a un certo punto del percorso ero diventato impaziente di passare dalla teoria alla pratica e ricordo che avevo presentato la relazione pensando che di lì a poco avrei finalmente fatto fluidodinamica con il computer. Non è andata proprio così. Il mio correlatore (Ignazio Viola) prese tutta la parte teorica scritta e letteralmente la “cestinò” dicendomi che finché non avessimo ben chiara la parte teorica non saremmo andati avanti con la parte pratica delle simulazioni CFD. Per me fu la svolta. Quel giorno imparai una lezione che mi porto ancora dietro: non importa quanto impieghiamo a fare le cose. L’importante è che vengano fatte con accuratezza e verificando tutti i passaggi necessari. Oggi so che lavorare in questo modo porta risultati e sviluppa buone relazioni con i colleghi e con le persone”.
“Il lavoro non si limita alla fase preparatoria delle gare. Anche in mare, il motore della tecnologia rimane sempre acceso, pronto a migliorare ogni aspetto”
Un consiglio che vorresti dare ai ragazzi sul loro futuro professionale?
“Ci sono molti giovani che inviano il curriculum perché indubbiamente questo è un lavoro affascinante. E altri che si avvicinano al team per fare due chiacchere e chiedere consigli. Anche in questo caso mi porto dietro un insegnamento imparato ai tempi dell’Università. Ce lo ripeteva sempre il professor Federico Cheli e me lo sono ripetuto negli anni come un mantra: “Ragazzi, non fermatevi al primo lavoro che incontrate, anche se economicamente vi soddisfa e vi rende sicuri. Se avete un obiettivo, inseguitelo. Fate quello che sentite dentro, per cui vi sentite portati. Ed è esattamente come andare in barca a vela. Non si va controvento, bisogna sfruttare le opportunità, spesso seguendo un percorso fatto di virate e strambate per arrivare al traguardo. Insomma investite in voi stessi e nei vostri sogni”.
E a proposito di sogni, qual è il tuo?
“A livello sportivo vincere la Coppa America. Ci siamo arrivati vicino e ora quel sogno deve diventare realtà. Un passo dopo l’altro”. Come quelli che hanno portato Simone a fare il lavoro che desidera, sin da quando era uno studente del Politecnico di Milano.
It’s Forbes' ranking that illustrates the landscape of the world's largest publicly traded companies: the 2024 Global 2000 list, published last June. Overall, it features companies from 61 countries, and this year, 28 Italian companies have made it into the ranking.
Five of these have “Politecnico leadership”: here are the Alumni at the helm of these companies driving the nation forward.
ENEL, 2nd place in Italy, 94th in the global ranking. The CEO is Flavio Cattaneo, a Politecnico di Milano Architecture graduate.
GENERALI, 4th place in Italy, 141st in the global ranking. The group's general manager is Marco Sesana, an alumnus in Management Engineering.
PRYSMIAN, 18th place in Italy, 1,156th in the global ranking. Massimo Battaini, a Mechanical Engineering alumnus, serves as CEO and General Manager.
A2A, 19th place in Italy, 1,257th in the global ranking. Renato Mazzoncini, a Politecnico di Milano graduate in Electrical Engineering, is the CEO and General Manager.
NEXI, 27th place in Italy, 1,856th in the global ranking. The group’s CEO is Paolo Bertoluzzo, an alumnus in Management Engineering.
Discover other Notable Alumni of Politecnico di Milano: Alumni who, through the success of their ideas, companies, and works, become ambassadors of the University and its values worldwide, contributing to their transfer into the technological, industrial, and social realms.
A retrospective: it was 2016 when we published “2099”: the book in which 87 prominent alumni shared just as many pieces of advice for young people, taking a glimpse into the future. Are they still relevant, 8 years and a pandemic later?
The appointment with the Convention for the Alumni of Politecnico di Milano is coming!
Through dialogue with alumni, the University creates a space for sharing that encourages reflection on its own journey of innovation and the professional growth of its Alumni, with the pragmatic approach tied to Politecnico's know-how.
This year we will see the participation of exceptional guests! On stage, also:
Donatella Sciuto is the Rector of Politecnico di Milano, where she is a Full Professor of Information Processing Systems. She graduated in Electronic Engineering from the same university and obtained her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder (USA), as well as a Master's in Business Administration from Bocconi University. Since January 2023, she has been at the helm of Italy's first technical university, being the only female rector since its foundation. A member of the Supreme Council of the Bank of Italy, she also sits on various Boards of Directors of listed companies. Among her major institutional roles, she participates in the Boards of Directors of STMicroelectronics, F.I.L.A., Avio, Fondazione Corriere della Sera, Fondazione TIM, and Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente. She is part of the Council of the Italian Institute of Technology and the Technical-Scientific Committee of the National Cybersecurity Agency. She is co-author of over 400 scientific articles and holds 4 international patents. She has served as President of the IEEE Council of Electronic Design Automation, an international scientific society.
Enrico Zio is the Rector's Delegate for Alumni and Fundraising, President of the Alumni of Politecnico di Milano, and Vice President of Fondazione Politecnico di Milano. He holds a degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA, and a PhD in Risk Analysis from MIT. He is a Professor at Politecnico di Milano and at Ecole de Mines, Paristech in France. Additionally, he is an honorary professor at various international universities and a distinguished lecturer for the renowned international associations IEEE and Sigma Xi.
An internationally recognized scientist in the field of risk analysis and resilience of complex systems, he is the author and co-author of numerous educational and research books, and over 700 scientific articles in international journals. He has served as President and Vice President of various industry associations and international conferences, as well as associate editor and contact person for many international journals.
In 2020, he received the prestigious Humboldt Research Award, one of the most esteemed research awards in the world in the field of scientific disciplines. In 2021, he was appointed Ambassador of the Center for Resilience Engineering of the four Dutch technical universities and became a Fellow of the Prognostics & Health Management Society.
Rosalba Reggio is a multimedia correspondent for Sole 24 Ore, focusing on economics and social sustainability. After working in satellite television, radio, and print media, she founded Sole 24 Ore's web TV in 2013 and led it for 10 years. Since 2017, she has been hosting a weekly market video segment and a live broadcast on economic topics. In the past year, she participated in a rescue operation in the Mediterranean with Doctors Without Borders, completed a report in Uganda with Emergency, and followed an MSF mission in Chad, in two refugee camps on the border with Sudan.
Claudio Spadacini is the founder and CEO of Energy Dome, a leading company in the field of long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions, renowned worldwide for its key innovation: the CO2 Battery. Claudio, an innovator and serial entrepreneur by nature, has founded several successful companies in the energy sector prior to Energy Dome, taking them from seed concepts to market leaders.
Alessandra Accogli è Cofounder e CEO di Sinergy Flow S.r.l, una startup che si occupa dello sviluppo di batterie a celle di flusso basate su materiali riciclabili e a basso costo e che aderisce pienamente ai principi dell’economia circolare. Ha svolto il Dottorato di Ricerca al Surface and Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory al Politecnico di Milano focalizzandosi sullo sviluppo e l’ottimizzazione di batterie di nuova generazione che utilizzino materiali abbondanti e a basso impatto ambientale, conseguendo il titolo cum laude nel luglio 2021.
Nel 2019 vince la Rocca Foundation Doctoral Fellowship per svolgere attività di ricerca presso l’Electrochemical Energy Laboratory al Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) dove si occupa dello studio di batterie sodio-aria.
A maggio 2020 viene premiata con il Lamborghini Future FAB Award – 2019 Edition nel settore Tecnologia per il suo progetto sullo sviluppo di una batteria anode-free a base sodio come alternativa più performante, sicura e sostenibile rispetto ai dispositivi agli ioni di litio per il settore automotive.
Luca Verre is the co-founder and CEO of Prophesee, the inventor of the world's most advanced neuromorphic vision systems. Prophesee's patented technology is inspired by human vision, restoring sight to the blind and unlocking new standards of performance, safety, and autonomy for robots, consumer devices, and cars.
Luca is a Technology Pioneer at the World Economic Forum. He has extensive international management experience in the industrial and electronic sectors. His background includes roles in project and product management, marketing, and business development at Schneider Electric. Before joining Schneider Electric, Luca worked as a research assistant in photonics at Imperial College London. He earned an MSc in Physics, Electronic and Industrial Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and Ecole Centrale, as well as an MBA from INSEAD.
Mariagrazia Brunetti was born in Milan. After graduating from Scientific High School, she earned a degree in Electronic Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.
After various technical experiences at Agusta Elicotteri and SIA, particularly in the field of SW Engineering, she focuses on Business Development activities related to consulting services, outsourcing, and the implementation of Test Automation projects for Key Accounts.
In 2014, she founded Quence srl, where she serves as Managing Director. The mission of Quence is to introduce innovative methodologies and solutions for Software Quality Engineering, which has led to consistent growth over the years. In 2022, the company became part of the TXT e-solutions SPA Group.
Since 2021, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of Assintel, the Confcommercio Association that brings together companies in the ICT sector, where she also serves as Vice President and leads the working group on entrepreneurship and women's empowerment.
She loves innovation, challenges, and new opportunities.
Marco Nocivelli: Born in 1966, a graduate in management engineering from Milan Polytechnic, he joined the family business in 2000 as CEO of Costan, an Epta brand. He later became CEO of Epta in 2011 and chairman of the board of directors in 2016.
Marco Nocivelli was appointed Vice President of Confindustria with responsibility for Industrial Policies and Made in Italy in April 2024. He has been President of Assofoodtec and since 2019 has been President of ANIMA-Federation of National Associations of Miscellaneous and Related Mechanical Industries after serving as its VicePresident for 5 years with responsibility for economic relations.
He received the appointment of Cavaliere del Lavoro by President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella conferred on the occasion of Republic Day on June 2, 2020.
Stefano Scaglia graduated in 1986 with a degree in Electronic Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano and obtained an MBA from INSEAD Business School in 1990. After working at GTE Telecomunicazioni spa, Philips spa, and Bain & Company, he has served as the CEO of Gruppo Scaglia since 2000 and, since 2004, as the founder and CEO of Scaglia INDEVA in Brembilla, in the province of Bergamo.
The Group, active in the fields of mechanical components, industrial automation, and robotics, operates with offices in Europe, the USA, and China.
From 2005 to 2011, he held the position of Vice President of Confindustria Bergamo, with responsibilities for innovation, education, and energy.
In 2006, he was the promoter of the Intellimech Mechatronics Research Consortium, and from 2012 to 2018, he served as President of AFIL – Associazione Fabbrica Intelligente Lombardia, the Technological Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing.
From 2017 to 2022, he was President of Confindustria Bergamo.
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